Nursing Jobs
There are not enough nurses to fill jobs in the United States , and the nursing crisis is going to get worse before it gets better according to experts. Nursing schools are short on faculty and classrooms and simply cannot educate enough nurses. Thousands of prospective nursing students are turned away despite the ever-growing demand and the abundance of nursing jobs.
Despite the obstacles, if you're looking for a career that offers stability, good pay and benefits, and personal rewards, then you should look at nursing jobs.
Here's a brief look at some of the more common nursing careers, including Registered Nurses, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and Certified Nursing Aides.
Registered Nurses, or RNs, work in many different healthcare environments, from hospitals to doctor's offices. An RN is in close contact with patients, helping them through illnesses and health challenges, administering drugs, changing dressings, starting IVs, and a variety of other patient care tasks. An RN's responsibilities vary depending on whether s/he works in a hospital, doctor's office, or some other kind of health care facility. Nurses working in hospitals often have just one area of responsibility, such as pediatrics or labor and delivery, whereas nurses in public health offices have a broader range of responsibilities.
It's challenging to become a nurse as there are more applicants than spaces available in nursing programs. At a minimum, RNs must acquire a two-year nursing program degree and gain a license by passing an examination. There are many pre-requisite courses one needs as well, focusing on biology, chemistry, health and anatomy.
The hard work in nursing school is rewarded with pay that ranges between $35,000 and $70,000 per year. The benefits are usually very competitive as well.
Typically, RNs work at least 40 hours per week, but those hours are often gotten in a compressed work week. How would you like to work 12 hours, 3 days a week instead of 5 days per week? Also, since health care facilities operate around the clock it is possible to work during different times of the day including evenings, weekends, early mornings, etc.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, or CRNAs, work under the supervision of anesthesiologists and assist in administering anesthetics to patients before and after surgery. CRNAs earn more than most other types of nurses, with their salaries averaging $115,000.
The work of a CRNA begins prior to surgery. They assess patients to determine what type and amount of anesthetics are appropriate and whether patients have allergies or other health issues to consider. During surgery the CRNA assists the anesthesiologist, then remains to monitor patients post operation.
Like RNs, CRNAs must obtain an education and licensure before practicing. It takes 2-3 years in the classroom, with coursework being heavy on science, biology, physiology, and chemistry. Furthermore, CRNA students must learn all about anesthetics and administering anesthetics to patients. To get accreditation most nurses have received their bachelor's degree in nursing and have at least a year or more of patient care experience in a hospital or other health care facility. Education is ongoing after licensure as one must stay up on the latest developments.
As a CRNA you will find most nursing job opportunities in hospitals, pain clinics, and doctor's offices.
Job opportunities for CRNAs are excellent as hospitals have an ongoing, growing need for them.
Being a Certified Nursing Aide or CNA is much different than being a Registered Nurse. For one thing, it takes much less education to become a CNA.
CNAs usually work in hospitals and nursing homes providing personalized care and doing basic, helpful tasks for patients or facility residents: taking blood pressures and temperatures, making beds, changing bed pans, and so forth. CNAs often provide helpful information to doctors and nurses regarding the people under their care.
CNAs looking to advance can receive additional training and education in order to become a certified medication aide or CMA. This allows them to pass out and administer medication to patients as prescribed by their doctors.
As the name implies, Certified Nursing Aids must get certified. This is accomplished through participation in training programs and taking and passing a certification test. It takes as little as six months to get certified; less if the coursework can be completed sooner.
CNA compensation ranges between $9.00 and $15.00 per hour, and frequently includes benefits when work is full time.
Job prospects for CNAs are excellent as baby boomers aren't getting any younger.
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